Misappropriation of Resident Funds by Former Staff Member
Penalty
Summary
A deficiency occurred when a former Assistant Business Office Manager (ABOM) accessed a resident's bank account information and withdrew funds without the resident's knowledge or consent on 18 separate occasions, resulting in a total loss of $4,671.22. The resident, a male with diagnoses including COPD, muscle weakness, hypertension, and atrial fibrillation, had intact cognitive function as indicated by a BIMS score of 14. The unauthorized transactions took place over several months, and the resident only became aware of the missing funds after noticing discrepancies in his account and seeking assistance from the Business Office Manager (BOM). The facility did not detect the misappropriation until the resident reported the issue, at which point it was discovered that the former ABOM had linked the resident's bank account to her personal Cash App and transferred funds without permission. The ABOM had access to residents' financial information as part of her duties, including assisting with Medicaid applications. The police were involved, and the former ABOM admitted to the theft and was subsequently arrested. The facility's policy states that residents have the right to be free from misappropriation and exploitation, but this was not upheld in this instance.